Specs, fluids & service · 1981–1991
Isuzu Trooper (first generation) specs, fluids and service intervals
The numbers you need in the garage, on one page: spec sheet, capacities and service intervals, wheels and tires, and the parts to order. Sourced from owners, specialists and the factory; tags marked confirm in manual haven't been checked against a factory source yet.
Spec sheet
| CHASSIS | UBS (UBS13 / 16 / 17 / 52 / 55 by engine) |
|---|---|
| PRODUCTION | September 1981 – 1991 (Japan) |
| US MODEL YEARS | 1984–1991 (Trooper II) |
| BODY | Two-door (three-door) and four-door (five-door) wagon; short and long wheelbase |
| ENGINES (US) | 1.95 L, 2.3 L, 2.6 L I4; 2.2 L diesel / turbo-diesel; 2.8 L GM V6 |
| TRANSMISSION | 4-spd manual (1984); 5-spd manual; 4-spd automatic (late) |
| DRIVE | Part-time 4WD, two-speed transfer case |
| WHEELBASE | 104.3 in (2,650 mm); RS / SWB about 90 in (2,300 mm) |
| WIDTH | 65 in (1,650 mm) |
| GROUND CLEARANCE | 8.3 in (at rear differential) |
| CURB WEIGHT | 3,366–3,421 lb (1987 gas) |
| FUEL TANK | 21.9 gal (1985 on) |
| WHEEL BOLT PATTERN | 6 x 139.7 mm |
By year
| YEARS | PLATFORM | ENGINE | OUTPUT | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 (US) | Trooper II 2-door | G200Z 1.95 L SOHC I4 / C223 2.2 L diesel I4 | 82 hp / 101 lb-ft; diesel 62 hp / 96 lb-ft | Four-speed manual, 13.2 gal tank. Imported as a truck; the rear seat was a $300 option. |
| 1985–1987 (US) | Trooper II 2-door and 4-door | 4ZD1 2.3 L SOHC I4 / C223T 2.2 L turbo-diesel | 96 hp / 123 lb-ft; turbo-diesel 80 hp / 125 lb-ft (1987 brochure) | Five-speed, auto hubs, 21.9 gal tank. Turbo-diesel not sold in California. Facelift with rectangular lamps for 1987. |
| 1988–1991 (US) | Trooper II / Trooper | 4ZE1 2.6 L SOHC I4, fuel-injected | 120 hp | Five-speed manual or Aisin A340H four-speed automatic. |
| 1989–1991 (US) | Trooper | GM LL2 2.8 L OHV V6 | 122 hp / 204 N·m | Borrowed from the Chevrolet S-10; automatic trucks used the GM 4L30E. |
| 1989 (US) | Trooper RS (short wheelbase) | 4ZE1 2.6 L I4 | 120 hp | About 90 in wheelbase, 4.77:1 gears, 15 x 7 in 'snowflake' alloys. One year only. |
| Late 1980s (export) | UBS55 Bighorn / Jackaroo / Trooper | 4JB1 2.8 L diesel and 4JB1-T turbo-diesel | 95 PS (turbo), up to 115 PS intercooled | Never sold new in the US. |
Fluids, capacities & service intervals
Treat any first-generation Trooper as unserviced until receipts prove otherwise. These trucks are 35 to 40 years old, so the cheap fluids and rubber parts are what keep the engine and drivetrain alive. Isuzu's factory specs aren't widely published online. The fluid types and capacities below come from Liqui Moly's lookup, which uses European-market Isuzu data, so confirm viscosities and US figures in the owner's or service manual for your engine.
| ITEM | SPEC / CAPACITY | INTERVAL | NOTES & PARTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | ≈4.7 L (5.0 US qt) with filter on the 1988–90 2.6; ≈5.4 L (5.7 US qt) with filter on the 1990–92 2.6 (Liqui Moly lookup, European data) · grade confirm in manual | Then at the owner's-manual interval | Watch for leaks at the oil-cooler hoses on 1990–91 trucks; recall 90V166 rerouted a hose that could touch the exhaust manifold.Oil filter, 1990 Trooper 2.6 · RockAuto ↗Drain plug gasket · RockAuto ↗ |
| Air filter & fuel filter | Replace both | Then inspect at every oil change | Old fuel filters and tired pumps cause many hard-start complaints on old trucks.Air filter · RockAuto ↗Fuel filter · RockAuto ↗ |
| Ignition | Plugs, wires, distributor cap and rotor (2.6) | Then per the manual | The 1988–91 2.6-liter uses a distributor, so the cap and rotor are part of a tune-up.Spark plugs · RockAuto ↗Distributor cap · RockAuto ↗Distributor rotor · RockAuto ↗Spark plug wires · RockAuto ↗ |
| Timing belt (four-cylinder petrol) | Belt, tensioner, cam and crank seals | Now, if there's no record; then per the manual confirm in manual | The 2.3 and 2.6 Isuzu fours use a belt.Timing belt and component kit · RockAuto ↗ |
| Coolant, hoses and thermostat | Coolant type per the manual confirm in manual · ≈9.8 L (10.4 US qt) system on the 2.3 and 2.6 (Liqui Moly lookup) | Flush now | Owners report cracked heads and head gaskets on these engines, so a healthy cooling system is cheap insurance.Coolant · RockAuto ↗Thermostat · RockAuto ↗ |
| Manual transmission oil | Engine oil, not gear oil (Liqui Moly's lookup lists multigrade engine oils) · ≈2.95 L (3.1 US qt) in the 2.6 five-speed; on the 2.3 it lists 4.6 L for gearbox and transfer case together · viscosity confirm in manual | Drain and refill now | Check the clutch hydraulics while you're under there.Manual transmission fluid · RockAuto ↗Clutch slave cylinder · RockAuto ↗ |
| Automatic transmission fluid & filter | Dexron-III-type ATF (Liqui Moly lists its ATF III) · ≈4.5 L (4.8 US qt) for the 1990–92 2.6 automatic (Liqui Moly lookup) | Pan drop and filter now | Don't overfill. That's what recall 90V167 was about on 1990–91 trucks.Automatic transmission filter · RockAuto ↗Pan gasket · RockAuto ↗ |
| Transfer case | Engine oil, as in the gearbox (Liqui Moly lookup) · ≈1.45 L (1.5 US qt) on the 2.6 · viscosity confirm in manual | Drain and refill now | Shift through 2H, 4H and 4L afterwards to check the linkage.Transfer case fluid · RockAuto ↗ |
| Front & rear differentials | GL-5 hypoid gear oil; LSD-rated oil in a limited-slip rear · 2.6: ≈1.5 L (1.6 US qt) front, ≈1.8 L (1.9 US qt) rear; 2.3: ≈1.0 L front, ≈1.5 L rear (Liqui Moly lookup) · viscosity confirm in manual | Drain and refill now | Check the pinion seals for leaks.Differential pinion seal · RockAuto ↗ |
| Front hubs & wheel bearings | Clean, inspect, repack | Now, then as needed | Water in auto hubs is a common cause of hubs that won't engage.Wheel bearing · RockAuto ↗Wheel seal · RockAuto ↗ |
| Brake fluid & hoses | Flush; inspect the rubber hoses | Every two years | Front discs and rear drums; check the rear wheel cylinders for leaks.Brake fluid · RockAuto ↗Brake hose · RockAuto ↗Wheel cylinder · RockAuto ↗ |
| U-joints & driveshafts | Grease the fittings; check for play | At every oil change | One 1990 owner reported a driveshaft falling while driving; check for play in the joints and loose bolts.Universal joint · RockAuto ↗ |
| Wheel studs & lug nuts | Inspect every stud and nut | Every tire rotation | Hand-start every nut and torque to spec; never let a shop hammer them on with an impact gun.Brake and wheel-hub catalog · RockAuto ↗ |
Capability
| Payload | 1,374 lb (2-door) / 1,319 lb (4-door) 1987 gas trucks, Isuzu brochure; 1,222 lb for the 1984 two-door tested by Car and Driver |
|---|---|
| Fuel tank | 21.9 US gal (83 L) From 1985; 13.2 gal on the 1984 two-door |
| Ground clearance | 8.3 in (211 mm) Minimum, at the rear differential (Isuzu brochures) |
| Fuel economy | EPA 21 city / 27 hwy (1984 1.95); 17 / 20 (1987 2.3 five-speed) Car and Driver averaged 21 mpg in 1984 |
| Curb weight | 3,366 lb (2-door) / 3,421 lb (4-door) 1987 gas trucks |
| Turning circle | 38.8 ft (11.8 m) curb to curb 1987 |
| Cargo volume | 79.0 cu ft without the rear seat 45.5 cu ft with the seat up |
Wheels & tires
| Factory tire | P235/75R15 on 6.0 x 15 (Deluxe) or 6.5 x 15 (LS) wheels, 1987 US · 15 x 7 alloy 'snowflake' wheels on the 1989 Trooper RS |
|---|---|
| Bolt pattern | 6x139.7 (6x5.5") |
| Center bore | 100 mm |
| Lug thread | M12x1.5 |
Open the Isuzu Trooper (first generation) in the tire fitment tool →
Common Isuzu Trooper (first generation) repairs
- Replace stripped or broken wheel studsDIFFICULTY 2 / 5
- Timing belt on the 2.3 and 2.6 foursDIFFICULTY 3 / 5
- Cooling-system refresh to protect the headDIFFICULTY 2 / 5
- Service or replace the front locking hubsDIFFICULTY 2 / 5
- Front CV boots and axlesDIFFICULTY 3 / 5
- Free up and protect the rear-door hingesDIFFICULTY 2 / 5
- Automatic transmission service (and the 90V167 recall check)DIFFICULTY 2 / 5
Always confirm torque figures, fluids and capacities against the factory service manual for your VIN. See the disclaimer; some parts links are affiliate links.